Americans may be divided on other issues, but there's one thing we all agree on:
An unruly passenger who reportedly tried to yank open a cabin door in an airliner en route to Washington was jumped last night by fellow passengers who helped federal air marshals subdue him.
...
The man "was pulling on the rear-door release handle," said the passenger, Stephen Lockwood of Northern Virginia.A flight attendant ordered the man to stop, but he continued to pull on the handle.
Two or three passengers standing nearby intervened, Lockwood said he was told by others onboard.
"They jumped him," Lockwood said. "He resisted," and a vigorous scuffle ensued.
"The guy took quite a beating," Lockwood said.
Bet he did.
(Via Lucianne.)
Posted by floridacracker at September 13, 2006 02:09 AMI would gladly beat the crap out of anyone who tried to open the door on a plane. Cripes!
Posted by: pam at September 13, 2006 09:36 AMThe pummeling was delivered with much satisfaction, I'd wager.
Posted by: Donnah at September 13, 2006 10:13 AMI'd like to hear from someone that knows whether it is even possible to open a cabin door when in flight. I remember that DB Cooper managed to jump from an airliner thirty years ago but what about now?
I've stood in open doors of military aircraft a few thousand feet off of the ground but I have no idea what happens at higher altitudes. I know there have been a number of aircraft disasters due to lost cargo doors but usually that has involved the larger door slamming into control surfaces at the tail of the plane more than rapid decompression.
Just wondering.
Posted by: tfhr at September 13, 2006 10:32 AMI remember some passengers got sucked out of the plane on a Hawaii flight when a door failed (electrical problem) and there was explosive decompression. I imagine the pilot must have dove after that, or we woudn't be talking about only 10 or so people dying. It was harrowing and must have taken 20 years off that pilot's life. He landed the plane safely. Here's a pic of what it looked like:
http://www.answers.com/topic/united-airlines-flight-811
and an eyewitness report:
http://www.airdisaster.com/eyewitness/ua811.shtml
I suppose they're talking about the vacuum made when the plane gets high enough and that he wouldn't have the force to manually open the door. Still, planes do decompress at high altitudes, for whatever reason, with disasterous results: Helios, Payne Stewart, etc.
Aloha Airlines was another one with explosive decompression:
http://www.answers.com/topic/aloha-airlines-flight-243
As was American Airlines flight 96:
http://www.answers.com/topic/american-airlines-flight-96
That said, I think your initial course of action (severe beating by passengers), is still the way to go. I'm flying (back to the world) in a mere 12 days and I'll be maintaining a close watch on all the doors.
Posted by: tfhr at September 13, 2006 07:19 PMThat has to be the new 'stoopitest' ever thing to do.
Those airliner doors have electric acuated hydraulic
locks, that, from my understanding...can only be
activated on the ground (or in the event of an emergency). That being said, what an idiot.
If you're gonna get your head taken off by some Stephen Segal wanna-be's geez.. grab a nurse or something almost worthwhile..yanking on a door that won't open is like ..well, it's just stoopit.
I gotta be honest here. The last time I flew I was hoping somebody would yank on something...just so I could try MY Segal moves.. In fact, we went on a Carnival Cruise and I was hoping for a little action there, also.
Posted by: csason at September 14, 2006 05:53 AMRemember the old Dodge commercial with the sheriff? I just had a vision: idiot is pulling on the door and hears "You in a HEAP of trouble, boy" just before the first hand lays hold.
Posted by: Firehand at September 15, 2006 06:50 PM